jcurrie58 Reviews

Kath & Kim (2002–2007)

Kath and Kim reign!

[26 October 2007]

I'm completed addicted to this show and am only sorry it has ended its run here in the UK. I'm not Australian so maybe can't recognize all of the cultural points, but still find it amusing. It's not laugh out loud stuff, but I imagine that Australians can recognize the satirical observations more than anyone. I love the ever optimistic Kath and her dreadful wardrobe and the mind-bogglingly selfish Kim.

What I can't understand is, why are the Americans making their own version and not screening the original? Is it the accents? Are Americans not capable of understanding any accents other than their own? As Kath says, "look at May, Kim, look at May".

Of Mice and Men (1968 TV Movie)

Not available on video/DVD?

[10/10 · 5 March 2005]

I saw this TV film in the late 1960s and remember being very moved by it. At the end, when George kills Lennie, I was in floods of tears. Does anyone know if either George Segal or Nicol Williamson ever received any awards for their performances? If not, they should have. I don't usually admire Nicol Williamson as he frequently goes over the top, but here he surpassed himself. And his Californian accent (to my British ears) seemed very authentic.

I've also seen the 1939 version and in my opinion the TV film is just as good. I'm disappointed to see that it doesn't seem to be available on either video or DVD, as it's an undoubted masterpiece.

Meet the Fockers (2004)

What a surprise!

[25 February 2005]

I saw this film the other day and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of Streisand. Usually she over-dominates a film but here she is quite prepared to share the limelight with all the other actors. And not one person remarks that she is really beautiful! Even her legs and fingernails were less in evidence. Both she and Dustin Hoffman (who doesn't show enough of his comic talents) were hilarious as a couple who're still living in the 1970s.

I must say, though, I was disappointed in the performances of the other two actors, Robert de Niro and Blythe Danner. The latter was wasted and not given enough to do, and the former looks too grim and determined to have a lighter side. And how come their grandson still needs breastfeeding when he's clearly shown to have quite a few teeth? I'm not a mother but know perfectly well that infants are weaned after a few months. The whole storyline of the fake breast was dumb, to say the least.

Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)

Good, but not great, detective series

[13 December 2004]

I'm enjoying the re-runs of this series, which is being screened here in the UK in the afternoons. I have to say, though, that I do find Angela Lansbury's acting a bit irritating at times. She has a habit of bending her head to one side when she's being told something, and when she's surprised, opens her eyes very wide indeed. Rather too hamish. I generally like her in other films she's done and prefer her with a spice of lemon in her personality. Jessica Fletcher is rather too sweet for my taste. Angela is so much better in "State of the Union", "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and especially in the 1962 version of "The Manchurian Candidate". I find it amusing, though, in the Murder She Wrote series just how many male actors wear such bad wigs. It's quite hilarious!

Michael Collins (1996)

Stupid Love Interest

[5 November 2004]

Actually, Kitty Kiernan was engaged to Michael Collins, but had earlier been involved with Harry Boland, so her participation in the film is correct. I'm in the middle of reading a biography of Collins by James Mackey, and Kitty was a much more interesting character in real life than she was portrayed in the film. She and her siblings ran a hotel, as well as a general store and a bakery (their parents were dead) so she was a pretty smart person. She actually named one of her sons after her lover. Michael Collins was initially interested in her sister Helen, but she became engaged to someone else. Like many who saw the film, I thought that Julia Roberts' accent was AWFUL. I'm not Irish but cringe when I hear an American trying to do an Irish accent. Wasn't there any talented Irish actresses out there who could have been cast?

The Great Escape (1963)

McQueen's Attire

[17 July 2004]

One thing that puzzles me about McQueen's attire in "The Great Escape". How come he's the only one who doesn't wear any uniform? And his clothing is more like the 1960s with his tight white pants and sweat shirt. And he seemed more intent at playing a cool 1960s rebellious character than the 1940s officer he was supposed to be. Didn't the director have any control over him at all? Or was Steve McQueen only interested in his image? He looked totally out of place even amongst the other Americans in the camp. I accept the fact that as it was a Hollywood production there would be a fair number of US actors in it. According to a recent documentary on British TV, only 3 Americans were incarcerated in the POW camp - the remainder being British, Australians and the other Commonwealth countries, Poles, French and Dutch.

Morvern Callar (2002)

Incredibly Awful

[8 March 2004]

I had the misfortune to see this film last night on British TV. My question is: how did this film get financing in the first place? It's just another example of British social realism/miserablism at its worst. The characters were totally unsympathetic, the pace was snail-like and the photography murky. And how come Samantha Morton spoke in a Cockney accent? It was never explained how she ended up in Scotland. And how did she manage to dispose of her boyfriend's body without being detected? And why did her girlfriend not challenge her about being stranded in the Spanish countryside? And why was the pace so slow? British films would be more successful if the pace was picked up a bit. The movie was filmed in Oban, a lovely part of Western Scotland, though you would never know it. I just hope this film wasn't Lottery funded - if so it was a total waste of money.

Odd Man Out (1947)

What about the accents?

[9 February 2004]

This film was screened the other week on British TV. Although I find it a haunting and engrossing film (surely one of Carol Reed's best and certainly James Mason's best role) I found the accents very irritating. I realise the Belfast accent can sometimes be difficult to understand, but few of the actors made any attempt at an reasonable Northern Irish accent. Well, maybe Cyril Cusack tried. The most authentic accents were the children playing in the street. Fay Compton's character made it plain that she and her husband and sister were new to the city, but what about William Hartnell (the barman?). This may sound like nitpicking, but the Belfast accent is very distinctive and certainly does NOT sound like Dublin. Apart from that and the fact that neither the city nor "the organisation" were identified, this was a superb film with a haunting film score.

The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer (1999 TV Movie)

Can anyone tell me what happened in the end?

[24 January 2004]

This excellent true life drama has just been aired on British TV - over two weeks. It was a fascinating story that sent a chill up the spine. However, I would be intrigued to know what happened to Ira Einhorn in the end. The film was made in 1999 and a note at the end of the film said he was appealing against his extradition from France, having once been successful. What has happened in the four years since? Was he finally brought to justice? If there are any Philadelphians out there who could tell me, I would love to know. Having said that, full marks to an excellent cast!

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

A Thought Provoking Documentary

[9 December 2003]

This documentary was shown on British TV last Saturday and I found it very enlightening. I knew that America was a gun culture (being written into the Constitution that every American had a right to bear arms) but was unaware that guns could be offered at banks if opening an account. Michael Moore showed considerable courage and boldness in interviewing people he clearly was in disagreement with, i.e. Charlton Heston. How could the latter show such inconsideration in speaking in the town just after the school murders took place (I forget its name)? Maybe the real reason Heston is so militant is his comment about Canada not having the "ethnicity" that the US does, and maybe the reason he is so paranoid, as well as racist. I don't know Canada that well, but they certainly do have an ethnic population. We here in Britain had to tighten up our gun ownership laws after the terrible tragedy at Dunblane in 1996 (for non British, an armed man went into a school in Dunblane and shot several children and two teachers). Maybe the uncle of the little boy who shot a classmate bears some responsibility for having a gun in the first place, but one has to ask oneself why he needed one at all. As for me, I'll never view Charlton Heston in the same light again.

Notting Hill (1999)

Location Shooting

[1 December 2003]

I find it hard to believe that this film was actually shot in Notting Hill. Londoners will know the area as one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse in the city, yet I cannot remember seeing a single non white face in the outdoor scenes. Were they shot in the studio backlot? Shame on the movie makers for giving a false impression to non Brits. Notting Hill is the scene of the annual carnival in August and naturally has a large black population. Shame on Richard Curtis and the rest of the crew!

The Gentle Sex (1943)

An unusual British wartime film

[23 November 2003]

I saw this film recently on TV, and although social attitudes have changed drastically and is a tad patronising, it's still a worthy entry in the "soldiers going through training" film. What is unusual about it is that it concentrates on women rather than men. British films at the time (and for quite a few years afterwards) were male dominated. The recruits are a mixed bunch: Betty Miller (Joan Greenwood), the youngest, has never been away from home before or done anything for herself and is desperately homesick; Dot Hopkins (Jean Gillie)who wants to do something different; Erna the refugee (Lilly Palmer); Maggie Fraser (Rosamond John) the friendly Scottish girl, who never stops eating; Anne Lawrence (Joyce Howard) who is from a service family who knows what she has to do and is the beauty of the group. Joan Simpson (Barbara Waring), who is sharp tongued and stand-offish but who turns out to be as lonely as the rest of them and Gwen Haydon(Joan Gates) the cheery Cockney girl. Although I found the film enjoyable, I would like to have known more about the background of the recruits. Rosamond John's Scottish accent was unconvincing, though her performance was fine. And was Joan Simpson meant to be a lesbian? She showed her disdain for men throughout and the lady who saw her off at the railway station was very affectionate towards her, though she is listed in the credits as "Miss Simpson", although no reference to their being related was never made clear. Joyce Howard is lovely with a warm, friendly personality. I had never heard of her before and wondered if she was a relation to Leslie Howard, the director? And how any stretch of the imagination could John Laurie (the soldier who dances with Maggie) be referred to as "young", as Leslie Howard did in the final narration? He must have be 45 if he was a day. However, it was nice to see him with a smile on his face for a change. All in all, a good entry in the British wartime film genre.

On the Yard (1978)

Good prison drama

[2 August 2003]

I saw this film recently on TV - shown in the early hours of the morning. It's an above average prison drama, with excellent performances - especially by John Heard, Ron Faber (Manning, the first time offender), Lane Smith and Mike Kellin; the latter was especially good. I've also read the original novel, which is far tougher (the ascent in the balloon caused a large fire, with many dead). The author has himself served several sentences in the 1950s, so I'm wondering if conditions portrayed in prison are really up to date. All in all, well worth a viewing.

On the Yard (1978)

Enjoyable prison film

[30 July 2003]

I watched this film, which was on TV recently (in the early hours of the morning - I taped it, naturally!). I agree with the comments made about the ludicrous plot situation re the balloon. If the author (who has served a prison sentence) based this on fact, that's fair enough. But there was more than enough to enjoy apart from that. Particular mention should be made of Mike Kellin ("Red")who gave a very poignant portrayal of a man who's spent the majority of his adult life in prison, and Ron Faber (Manning, the first time offender) whose face told it all at the devastating effect of prison. The swearing was kept to a minimum, which was no bad thing, though offenders tend to use four letter words every other word. Whilst this is not THE prison film, it's certainly worth a viewing.

Fargo (1996)

One of the best films of the 1990s

[7 February 2003]

I've seen this film twice now and have just bought the video. Having read some of the negative comments on this website, I can only say - you just can't appreciate good filmmaking! It's brilliant, quirky, blackly humourous with great performances and a memorable score. Even after I had seen the film I could hear Carter Burwell's memorable music. The performances of Frances McDormand, William H Macy and Steve Buscemi are all terrific. It's also unusual to see a film set in a part of the US that we in the UK aren't too familiar with. The complaints I've read about the accents are unjustified - the Minnesota accent certainly makes a change after all the NY, Californian and Southern accents we've heard in the past.

One more thing - it's allegedly based on a true story which happened in 1987, but the end credits state it's fictional.

The Warriors (1979)

Great Action Film!

[14 January 2003]

Just thought I would add my appreciation of this great film. I'm certainly not into gang warfare films (apart from West Side Story) but The Warriors is truly an exciting, fast-paced film with great music. I've been a fan of James Remar's (Ajax) for the past couple of years and am following his career with interest - he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Walter Hill's films DO lack deep characterisation and subtlety and even realism (how come New York's streets are so deserted at night? - I thought it was a 24 hour city) but he's a very visual director. I don't know if anyone on this site has ever read any of Pauline Kael's reviews but she enjoyed it very much. Check out her writings to read her review,